MOM
Page 64
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Lighting
AFTER last week's discussion on the physical properties of side and front corner marker lamps, I must now consider when they are legally required. It is convenient for this purpose to divide vehicles into three groups:
111 Length of vehicle or overall length of two or more vehicles exceeds 60ft inclusive of load. Side marker lamps required as follows
1,0 One lamp not more than 30ft from the front of the vehicle.
(b) One lamp not more than 10ft from the rear of the vehicle.
(c) Such other lamps between those already mentioned as will ensure that the distance between lamps is not more than 10ft.
421 Combination of two or more vehicles, being a motor vehicle and trailer/s carrying supported load and overall length exceeds 40k, but does not exceed 60ft (inclusive of load).
Supported load means one supported by any two or more vehicles forming part of such combination, but does not include a load carried by an articulated vehicle.
Side marker lamps required as follows—
(a) One lamp in a position behind the motor vehicle (that is the towing vehicle), but not more than 5ft behind it: and (b) if the supported load extends rearwards more than 30ft from the rearmost part of the vehicle, one lamp at the centre line of the load or not more than 5ft to the rear of it. (3) Trailers not falling within the two previous categories.
Side marker lamps required as follows—
(a) Two front corner market lamps.
(b) If the trailer has an overall length exceeding 30ft, side marker lamps on or not more than 5ft to the rear of the centre line of the trailer.
The following trailers are exempt from these regulations: trailers not exceeding 7ft Sin.; a trailer drawn by a passenger vehicle with not more than seven seats exclusive of the driver's seat, or a dual-purpose vehicle, and trailers carrying lamps showing a white light to the front by virtue of proviso (ii) of Section 9 (1) of the Road Transport Lighting Act 1957. This proviso refers to additional side lamps required on vehicles with projecting loads.
The two front corner marker lamps must be carried not more than 5ft behind the front of the trailer. This distance may be extended to 12ft if no part of the trailer in front of the lamp
has an overall width of more than half the maximum width of the trailer.
No part of the trailer must project outwards more than 12in. from the lamp. if, however, the lamp is fitted between 3ft and 5ft from the front of the trailer, not higher than 5ft from the ground and no part of the trailer on the same side as the lamp is being carried which is below 5ft from the ground and in front of the lamp projects outwards more than 12in. then other parts of the trailer may project outwards 20in. No part of the trailer must obscure the lamp.
The Regulation concerning the vehicles of over 60ft in length do not apply when the vehicle being drawn is broken down or where marker boards are fitted because a special appliance or projecting load is being carried.
Unlike the case of other lamps no offence is committed if a vehicle is used in daylight without the side and front corner marker lamps it requires at night.